News from March 2016
FTC and Illinois Attorney General take action against alleged illegal debt collection scheme
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A federal court, at the request of the Federal Trade Commission and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, temporarily halted an alleged scheme to threaten and intimidate consumers to collect phantom loan “debts” not actually owed.
U.S. alleges Tennessee man wrongfully received benefits
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. government is suing a Tennessee man, alleging he submitted claims for unemployment benefits while he was employed.
California men allege GoDaddy misrepresents hosting plan
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Two California men are suing GoDaddy, alleging it misrepresents one of its hosting plans.
Tennessee man alleges Love's charges excessive credit card holds
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Legal Newsline) - A Tennessee man is suing a highway convenience stores and gas stations company, alleging it places undisclosed and excessive credit "holds" on customers' credit card accounts.
Eleventh Circuit vacates class certification in lawsuit over front-loading washers
The three-judge panel, in an opinion issued last week, said the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia “too hastily concluded” that several questions in the litigation were common to the class. The federal appeals court remanded the litigation to the district court to reconsider certification.
California woman alleges derma e products contain foreign ingredients
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California woman is suing a non-medicinal skin creams producer over claims it misrepresents its products as being made in the U.S.
Illinois man alleges Best Practices Academy sent unsolicited faxes
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – An Illinois man is suing a clinical improvement programs organization over claims it sent unsolicited fax advertisements.
Justice Department opposes Iron Mountain, Recall merger
WASHINGTON D.C. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Justice Department is suing to prevent the merger of two of the nation's largest hard copy record management services.
Plaintiff wants no part in Conn. law firm’s lawsuit against former employee
Lemberg Law LLC filed its lawsuit against a former contract associate last year. The firm’s complaint, filed in Connecticut federal court, took issue with the period of time following Tammy Hussin’s departure in 2014. The firm alleges she didn’t make required payments under a separation agreement and electronically transferred law firm documents.
Customer alleges Nissan's vehicle service contracts unlawful
CAMDEN, New Jersey (Legal Newsline) - A New Jersey woman is suing Nissan, alleging it offers a service contract with unspecific provisions.
Virginia the first state to enact law allowing daily fantasy sports
Story CopyThe State of Virginia has enacted a new law allowing the operation of daily online fantasy sports ventures in the state.
Style Management Corp. to pay $750,000 in restitution to taxi drivers
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — Style Management Corp. (Style) and its owner Andrew Rosenberg will pay $750,000 in restitution to drivers allegedly illegally charged by the company, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced in conjunction with Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner Meera Joshi.
Justice Department announces $8 million deal with Kilgore, ESM
BUFFALO, New York (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice has announced that Kilgore Flares Company and one of its subcontractors, ESM Group Inc., will pay $8 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act.
CFPB institutes interim rule for small creditors in rural areas
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced an interim final rule broadening the provisions for small creditors that operate in rural and under-served areas.
Washington state Senate advances e-cigarette, vapor legislation
OLYMPIA, Washington (Legal Newsline) — The Office of Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson has announced the state’s Senate advanced a bill that reduces youth access to vapor products by a 37-6 vote.
EPA settles with two companies that allegedly violated PCB laws
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached agreements with G&S and Connecticut Oil Recycling Services after allegations each that company violated federal laws regarding toxic substances in the handling of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Future Income Payments agrees to settle alleged debt relief fraud case
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Future Income Payments LLC (FIP), a company that purchased income streams from veterans, agreed to provide debt relief of $2 million after allegations of illegal loans, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced.
Court rules New England electric transmission companies should refund consumers
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced a federal judge ruled that New England electric transmission companies should refund consumers $234 million after allegations the companies charge ratepayers too much.
EEOC reaches $2.1 million deal with Mavis Discount Tire over sex discrimination allegations
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced Mavis Discount Tire Inc., which also does business as Mavis Tire Supply Corp., Mavis Tire NY Inc. and Cole Muffler Inc., will pay $2.1 million after allegations of class sex discrimination.
Sixth Circuit rules against nurses' disparate treatment claims under the ADA
A recent unpublished opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit put the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) front-and-center in a fight between commercial hospital operators and some health care professionals.